Svetlana Kuznetsova is setting her sights on the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after three final features in 13 years.
The tour veteran seems to be keen on blooming late in her career as she is playing very good tennis. After a strong showing at the Wimbledon last year, she returned to the top ten in the rankings for the first time since 2010.
The 31-year old Russia international has reached the final three times, facing Justine Henin in 2004, then battling Elena Dementieva four years later before meeting Caroline Wozniacki in 2011.
Kuznetsova had a relatively impressive 2016, particularly the second half of the year. She retained her Moscow title then she went on to reach the last four in Wuhan and Tianjin. She reached the quarterfinals in Cincinnati and Montreal and then the last four at the WTA Finals in Singapore.
This year she has started well, reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open – which had a lot of surprises. She has played in Dubai thirteen times, missing just once in 2003. She would be featuring in the tournament as one of the top ten players.
There would be WTA Finals champion Dominika Cibulkova, Sydney champion Johanna Konta, Brisbane Champion Karolina Pliskova, 2016 Australian and US Open champion Angelique Kerber, 2016 French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, aside former Dubai Championship winners Sara Errani, Agnieszka Radwanska, and Caroline Wozniacki.
Any of the players in the top ten are likely winners in a championship that is too close to call.
In the ATP World Tour event from late February, Roger Federer, and Andy Murray would battle defending champion Stan Wawrinka for the title amongst other stars. Two-time finalists Tomas Berdych and rising star Gael Monfils are also expected to play at the tournament.